484 



GREAT MYSTICETE, 



than any part of the body, and broadest of all in 

 the middle. In a word, the whole fish is shaped 

 like a shoemaker's last, if you look upon it from 

 beneath. Behind the knob or bump, between 

 that and the fins, are placed the eyes, which are 

 not much bigger than those of a bullock, with 

 eyelids and hair like the human eyes. The crystal 

 (crystalline humour) is not much bigger than a 

 pea, clear, and transparent as crystal. The eyes 

 of the Whale are placed very low, almost at the 

 end of the upper lip. Some bring with them 

 from Spitzbergen some bones which they call the 

 ears of the Whale, but this I can say nothing to, 

 because I never saw any ; but very well remem- 

 ber, that I have heard that they lie very deep. 

 The Whale doth not hear when he spouts the 

 water, wherefore he is easiest to be struck at that 

 time. His belly and back^^ are quite red, and 

 underneath the belly tliej^ are commonly white ; 

 yet some are coal-black. ]\Iost of those which I 

 saw were white. They look very beautiful when 

 the sun shines upon them, the small clear waves 

 of the sea that are over him glistening like silver. 

 Some of them are marbled on the back and tail. 

 Where a Wliale has been wounded there remain- 

 eth always a white scar. I understood from one of 

 our harpooners that he once caught a Whale at 

 Spitzbergen that was white all over. Half white 



* I suspect some mistake here 3 the back being in most of the 

 Whale tribe of a dark colour. 



